Graduate Programs
Graduate study provides an opportunity to focus on a specialized topic and gain an appreciation of its relevance to broader issues.
Penn State University Park is located in the ridge and valley area of central Pennsylvania and offers ready access to forests, lakes, streams, as well as modern research facilities and libraries. In addition, graduate research programs may focus on other regions of the country or globe.
As a graduate student you will work closely with your faculty adviser (link to list of faculty with description of research interests) and committee members in designing a program of study and research adapted to your interests.
Graduate research projects typically address one or more of the following areas:
- Forest Resources Management: Quantitative forest management systems, economics, biometrics, remote sensing, forest recreation, policy and sociology, watershed management practices, urban forestry
- Forest Biology: Genetics and breeding, ecology, silviculture, revegetation of disturbed lands, reproduction of hardwoods
- Environmental Concerns: Acid precipitation effects, forest microclimatology, municipal wastewater and sludge effects, reclamation of mined lands, urban forestry, water yield and quality
- Wood Products: Wood anatomy and ultrastructure, wood composite properties, wood degradation and preservation, engineered wood products, recycled wood fiber composites, processing and manufacturing systems, industrial production management, business to business marketing, pulp and paper products, chemical and mechanical properties, wood products regional and international marketing
- Wildlife and Fisheries Science: Habitat evaluation, ecology and management of game and nongame wildlife, animal damage control, urban wildlife, wildlife responses to altered ecosystems, conservation biology, fish systematics, fisheries management, ichthyology, fish behavior and ecology, freshwater ecology, aquaculture, landscape ecology, terrestrial and wetland ecosystems
In addition, students may elect the Watershed Stewardship Option to focus on interdisciplinary watershed planning and management involving case problems in actual Pennsylvania watersheds.
Graduate degrees conferred are:
- Forest Resources—Ph.D. and M.S.(includes forest science and wood products);
- Wildlife and Fisheries Science—Ph.D. and M.S.
The Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs are oriented towards research, education, and scientific technology and each degree requires a thesis.
Applications are no longer being accepted for the M. Agr. degree or the M.F.R degree.
